Gist, Virginia agent to the Ohio Land Company, was the first person to provide a written description, in English, based on his observations of the Dayton area in 1751. This Miami Valley area was considered an "earthly paradise;" however, through continuous conflicts over land possession between settlers and Indians, it came to be known as the "Miami slaughter-house" by the close of the eighteenth century. The authors have gathered a wealth of information from conversations and correspondence with descendants of pioneers, historical texts, periodicals and Dayton academy records. Brief accounts...